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GS450L wiring issues

  • Thread starter Thread starter phillipjohnw
  • Start date Start date
If it's only your signal generator, you could have just dodged a bullet... I've seen them on eBay quite cheaply.

So if you measure directly on the signal generator coils do they test ok? And when you test across the plug connections they're not ok?

Like George said, no fuses, and definitely check out the connector.

I also should've mentioned all the ignitor options that I'm aware of:

  1. Brand new ignitor from Suzuki. Twice the price of the Dynatek but still available.
  2. Second hand ignitor from eBay or a wrecker. Same age, no guarantees it won't fail again.
  3. Dynatek DS3-3C.
  4. A later '83 and onwards GS450 or GS500 ignition setup including signal generator and ignitor. I have seen reports of this working but never seen it proven yet. '83 and later have electronic advance.
  5. Retrofit a 400/425 points setup. Seen it done and it works, but it's ugly.
 
Pete you seem to be the man with the plan. What do you suggest to fix my problems? I really can't afford the dyna system however nice it may be. I do like the idea of fitting an 83+ ignition rather than retrofitting old technology. On the other hand from what I've read once you get the old points set up they are pretty easy to maintain. As for ease and cost which do you feel would be best?

I don't know if it mattered or not, but when I measured the resistance of the S/G I did it through the plug that goes to the igniter. The actual leads going to the S/G were covered with that rubber epoxy that Suzuki used.

On a side note, do you guys know any GS wrenchers in the Charleston, SC area? There doesn't even seem to be good junkyards here.
 
the test is check ohms between each wire to ground. unplugged from the ignitor that is. you are to be checking the circuits to the signal generator on each wire.. unhook the blue and green from the ignitor. using the ohm meter check each wire to ground. each wire to a ground should be 60 to 80 ohms. if you get a lot higher than that i'd look at all the connectors leading to the ignitor if there are any. one may be corroded/unhooked. lets hope it's an open wire!!!

even if it's the s/g they are abundunt and cheep on EBAY. Personally, if it were the s/g i'd get another one. but if it's the ignitor which it sounds like it is not..

I'd go with points hahahahahah \\but i'm old school
 
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Ok, I did some lurking on the ebay. There was only one signal generator for a 450 and it was $125. There was bunch of cheaper ones for larger GS's, would a larger GS fit my 450?
 
not sure but you can try babbits or Boulevard suzuki online to compare part #s.


i don't even know for SURE if you can do the point conversion. as no one has confirmed that it is an easy bolt - in..

perhaps someone will chime in with answers to these questions.

all I know is, my GS400 has points and I'm not scared to ride it ANYWHERE but my GS450 has the electronic and with everyone saying they are hard to find and expensive, it really makes me wonder. I already dodged a bullet when my rectifier regulator was charging 20 volts , boiled out the water in the battery, and blew the hi beam outa my headlight. all in a couple weeks things can go BOOM it might as easily blew my ignition unit you know?
 
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The points can definitely be retrofitted... no idea where the thread is here but there was a guy who had it done from a 400 or 425. You'll need to get... advance plate, points plate, points cam and bolt. You'll also need the right coils with condensors. Oh, and you'll still need to run the extra oil pressure sensor switch wire as the 400/425's don't have it under the timing cover.

Tom's right, points will definitely be more resilient to things like overcharging, but they do take some maintenance and the bike will run pretty crappy if you don't get the points adjusted right or if a condensor fails.

As for the overcharging, that's why I spent the $10 or whatever it was for the single LED charging indicator from the UK, tells me exactly what's going on and told me immediately when my cheap junk Taiwanese R/R gave up the ghost. Didn't want the Dynatek going bye bye due to a dodgy charging circuit! Or my Acewell gauge for that matter...

I ain't afraid to ride my 450 anywhere now :D

So, as for ease and cost of the different setups... my guess is there's going to be equal difficulty retrofitting the points as there will be fitting a newer 450 or 500 setup, so cost is probably going to be the defining factor there.

The later ignition components will still be available from Suzuki as they used them right up to the later 500's I believe, so that may bring the price down somewhat. As for points, I've never looked so don't know what sort of $$ you'd be up for there...

And in case you're wondering... I got my engine rebuild done and half my bike rebuilt before discovering my ignitor was toast after sitting around for quite a few years... this is why I did a lot of research into this stuff and why I ended up with the Dynatek ;)

Dynatek customer service is awesome by the way... they helped me out immensely via email when I was trying to determine compatibility, and they even went as far as searching and finding my thread on here after just one short email conversation... plug over now :p
 
I don't know what to do. You have all been more than helpful and for that I thank you, I just can't see myself spending a couple hundred dollars trying to fit or retrofit something that may or may not work. even though its expensive the dyna system may be the way to go. I just hate shoveling out so much money for a 30 year old motorcycle. I'm also leaning towards the idea of turning it into someone else's problem.
 
well by your own test it is the signal generator or wiring. why not just get a replacement? keep looking on ebay. search for one for gs425 and 450. thats what i'd do first!!
 
Thanks for the find Tom. I really don't know how I missed that. I bid on it and hopefully it ends my worries.
 
before the bidding ends re test your s/g again!! and see if it is open!!:)
i always hate to tell people what to do, the bike is There and I am Here you know?
simple test.
low ohms scale..green wire to black should be 60-80

blue to black the same thing!!:)

check and double check.

i have had readings and go back and find that i had the meter in the wrong scale or the test leads weren't plugged in or someething.
also put your test leads together first to make sure it reads 0.000.....:)
and always test resistance with part isolated(unhooked)
 
I tested them again, still reading a break. I think I did find where the break was, unfortunately its in a place that I don't think I can repair. I just bid on the SG. I can shell out $50 for it. I just didn't want to pay half the price of the bike, call me cheap but this bike isn't worth that much too me. Even if it is the first bike that I built myself.
 
Sorry, this whole being a grown up with a real job really gets in the way of playing with your toys and having fun. I think the break was on one of the connections to the sg, but I'm not 100% sure. Also I don't have the tools or knowledge to solder something. I know its not hard, just something I don't want to have to deal with if I don't have to.
 
I have been really looking at an 89-02 gs500 ignition system if this sg doesn't fix the problem. The guys over at gstwins have been helping me a lot. They did mention something about ignition curves and actually called out Pete specifically saying you would know if the ignition parts would work.
 
Called me out? I ain't even a member on the GS Twins site... :cool:

Pity I have no spare time right now or I'd join and take a peak... I was a member once many years ago before I found GSR more suited to the 450... and me :)

From memory the 450 curve is 10 degrees BTDC below 1600 RPM or thereabouts and 40 degrees BTDC at 2500 RPM or thereabouts.

If I get some time I will have a look at my factory repro manual and get the exact figures for you.

Sorry, I'm just being absolutely smashed by work at the moment and am not finding much time to get on here.
 
I checked out that link and its cheap, but I'm a bit hesitant ordering from overseas.

Hopefully I'll get that part from ebay before the end of the week and it'll fix my problem.

Thanks for all the help guys.
 
Let us know how you go with the signal generator, would be a nice easy fix if that's all that's wrong.
 
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